Michigan State vs. Duke

This is a game between a pair of programs and coaches that have been to the dance with great success for many years. They know that games here are won in the halfcourt on offense, and on aggressive defense. Both will do their best to impose their defensive wills early in this game. Michigan State certainly has done that through the Big-10 Championship games, and their first pair in the Big Dance. Sparty has played to a combined average of 53.3 points per game in the first half in the four post-season encounters. Duke has played their first two tourney games to an average of 56.5 ppg in combined first half points. These guys have been here a lot, and I expect that effort to sustain itself through this round. Play the first half UNDER the total.